How has the Russian foreign policy evolved under Putin during the last 18 years?

Putin has made an enormous impact on his country and the world. Before Putin was elected to the Russian presidency in 2000, he told the BBC he “would not rule out” the possibility of joining NATO. Since then however, he has taken a much more aggressive position. As of late October, 2014, NATO states “had scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian aircraft more than 100 times… more than three more than in 2013”.

Putin also helped the Russian economy by making use of previously unused manufacturing capacity and by rising prices for oil, Russia’s main export. His economy has faltered a bit in recent years, but during 1999 and 2006, disposable income doubled. He has also made many other foreign policy changes but these are almost too numerous to outline.